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Beware of Facebook 'Friends' Who May Trash Your Laptop
Wall Street Journal ^ | 1-29-09 | JOSEPH DE AVILA

Posted on 01/29/2009 9:57:53 AM PST by Nachum

The message that popped into Laurie Gale's Facebook inbox last month seemed harmless enough -- a friend had seen a video of Ms. Gale and had sent a link so Ms. Gale could view it. The link led to a video site that prompted her to update her video software, which she did.

"Within seconds, everything started shutting itself down," says Ms. Gale, a 37-year-old lamp-works artist from Versailles, Ky. Ms. Gale's new Dell Inspiron laptop had been infected with malicious software, or malware, that has spread through social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.

"I cried for an hour," Ms. Gale says. It took a trip to the local computer repair shop and several phone calls with Dell customer-service representatives for her to restore the computer to its factory settings. "It was three days of torture."

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: beware; facebook; friends; laptop; malware
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1 posted on 01/29/2009 9:57:53 AM PST by Nachum
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To: Nachum

If I was stupid enough to download unknown software, I’d cry too.


2 posted on 01/29/2009 9:59:07 AM PST by nina0113 (Hugh Akston is my hero.)
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To: Nachum

facebook etc

Am I the only one who has never seen the point in it and never bother with it?

Just don’t see the reason why I should go on line, give a bunch of info out about me including how I look and then try to make friends.

or am I missing something?


3 posted on 01/29/2009 9:59:51 AM PST by manc (Marriage is between a man and a woman no sick MA,CT sham marriage end racism end affirmative action)
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To: Nachum

With friends like that, who needs Facebook?


4 posted on 01/29/2009 10:00:18 AM PST by Sopater (I'm so sick of atheists shoving their religion in my face.)
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To: Nachum

At 37, Ms. Gale is a little old to be learning that slumming can be dangerous.


5 posted on 01/29/2009 10:00:35 AM PST by EggsAckley
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To: Nachum

what is a lamp-works artist?


6 posted on 01/29/2009 10:01:46 AM PST by stainlessbanner
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To: manc

I use it mostly to keep in touch with people I know in real life. Especially helpful now that we have all graduated from college and are spread out.

A lot of people use it to get phone numbers when their cell phone breaks.


7 posted on 01/29/2009 10:01:53 AM PST by Mr. Blonde (You ever thought about being weird for a living?)
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To: Nachum

In you do get caught in the “update software to view video” virus scam.

Step one, close browser.

Step two, turn off computer.

Step three, go read a book. You’re not smart enough for the internet.


8 posted on 01/29/2009 10:03:05 AM PST by Dr.Zoidberg
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To: Nachum
The message that popped into Laurie Gale's Facebook inbox last month seemed harmless enough -- a friend had seen a video of Ms. Gale and had sent a link so Ms. Gale could view it. The link led to a video site that prompted her to update her video software, which she did.

Ms. Gale is a complete dumbass ...

9 posted on 01/29/2009 10:04:12 AM PST by tx_eggman (I own two rare photos. Houdini as he locks his keys in his car and Norman Rockwell beating a child.)
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To: Mr. Blonde
i have gotten this facebook "email" from good friends. it is very easy to see it is a bogus email.

it says, "i saw YOU in this HILARIOUS video!!!! LOLOLOLOLOL!!!! check it our here!!! XOXOXOX!!!!!

and then there is a link to some stupid site you've never heard of. i delete them and comment on my friends page that they got hacked. my old college teammates hardly ever write "XOXOX!!!" to me so i know it's not real. ha.

10 posted on 01/29/2009 10:05:28 AM PST by thefactor (yes, as a matter of fact, i DID only read the excerpt)
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To: manc
or am I missing something?

Yes. And I'm guessing you're over 50 too.

11 posted on 01/29/2009 10:05:31 AM PST by Lurking in Kansas (Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down their level, then beat you with experience.)
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To: stainlessbanner

what is a lamp-works artist?
______

A liberal without a real job.


12 posted on 01/29/2009 10:05:47 AM PST by WakeUpAndVote (INGSOC starts 1.20.09)
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To: Nachum
The link led to a video site that prompted her to update her video software, which she did.

Anybody who accepts a "software update" from some random link needs a software update between the ears.

13 posted on 01/29/2009 10:06:17 AM PST by steve-b (Intelligent design is to evolutionary biology what socialism is to free-market economics.)
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To: Nachum

“It was three days of torture.”

Given the current political environment she should sue.


14 posted on 01/29/2009 10:06:20 AM PST by PJammers (I can't help it... It's my idiom!)
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To: Nachum
"I cried for an hour," Ms. Gale says.

Good lord.

15 posted on 01/29/2009 10:06:47 AM PST by Trailerpark Badass (Happiness is a choice!)
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To: Lurking in Kansas

no actually I’ve just turned 40 and know many people who do it but my self I just don’t see the point of going on there to find friends when I have them here plus telling the world what I look like and all about me.

What am I missing?

A friend told me that it was cool and another was well you make friends over the internet.

Sorry but I just don’t get it.


16 posted on 01/29/2009 10:07:34 AM PST by manc (Marriage is between a man and a woman no sick MA,CT sham marriage end racism end affirmative action)
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To: Mr. Blonde

that is one of the best answers I have ever got for anyone who uses this face book thank you


17 posted on 01/29/2009 10:08:24 AM PST by manc (Marriage is between a man and a woman no sick MA,CT sham marriage end racism end affirmative action)
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To: Mr. Blonde

Friends and family. In fact my uncle posts a family newsletter on facebook every couple of weeks.


18 posted on 01/29/2009 10:08:31 AM PST by cripplecreek (The poor bastards have us surrounded.)
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To: Sopater
There is no way I would ever have one of these accounts.

What can I say---I have lots of friends already--LOL! FreeRepublic is all I need. Thanks, Mr. Robinson!

19 posted on 01/29/2009 10:08:37 AM PST by basil ( It's time to eliminate all "Gun Free Zones")
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To: Nachum
Users should be especially wary of any messages from friends that don't sound like their friends wrote them. If they don't normally write OMG in a message, it's probably not them, says Mr. Kelly, Facebook's director of security.


20 posted on 01/29/2009 10:08:42 AM PST by steve-b (Intelligent design is to evolutionary biology what socialism is to free-market economics.)
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